Obituary: Douglas A. Schwartz
01/09/1971-03/09/2024
The world has lost another beautiful soul. Douglas Alan Schwartz, age 53, passed peacefully in Denver on March 9th surrounded by his family. Born on January 9th, 1971, to Richard and Vicki Schwartz in Rochester NY, Doug attended Fairport High School where he was an ambitious scholar and young soccer stud. He attended Cornell University where he played D1 soccer, was a Chi Phi brother, and earned a Chemical Engineering Degree. Doug intended to start his engineering career in upstate NY after a post-graduation break in Vail, Colorado.
As many of the local stories unfold, Doug was enamored by the beauty of the Vail Valley. Doug’s lifestyle in the mountains trumped the corporate draw and, in 1993, he established permanent residence in East Vail. He started work at a T-shirt shop on Bridge Street and eventually transitioned to the bar crew at the Red Lion. Doug made fast friends and was up early for powder days. He quickly connected with like-minded soccer guys in Vail and played organized tournaments for Pepi’s team, even traveling to Germany to do so. Doug eventually settled down to start a family, having two sons: Jack (18) and Luke (16). He dabbled in Real Estate for a time and was an owner of our beloved eTown Kitchen and Bar in Edwards, where he could be found after a round of golf or a day of skiing the back bowls.
Doug and his boys have been a part of the Vail Mountain School since Jack and Luke entered kindergarten. Doug was a VMS boys soccer coach from 2013-2016. Doug was a member of Red Sky Golf Club and shared his love of golf with his sons on fair weather days. While Doug enjoyed all aspects of this valley, his true love was fly-fishing. On any weekday, he could be found up and down the Eagle River crying “fish on!” even if no one was there to hear it. In most recent years, Doug could be found adventuring with his wife: finding great venues for music, discovering a new fishing hole, eating great food, or soaking in the beauty of nature. Above all, Doug loved being a dad to Jack and Luke.
He enjoyed watching his sons play soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. He was very proud of the young men they had become. Doug is survived by his wife, Shelly Belknap, father Richard Schwartz, brother Steve Schwartz (Stephanie), two sons Jack Schwartz (18) and Luke Schwartz (16), niece Anna Schwartz, nephews Tim Schwartz and Brendan Schwartz, aunt Mary Jane Proschel and Doug’s daily canine companion, Sadie Lou. Doug was preceded in death by his mother Vicki Schwartz this past October. A celebration of life will be held this summer to honor Doug’s love of life, music, nature, and this valley. Details to be provided at a later date. If you would like to honor Doug’s life through a donation to a local entity, please consider Starting Hearts, Round Up River Ranch, Bright Futures, Eagle Valley Land Trust, Shaw at Home, or Mountain Family Health Centers.
